Fabric-drying apparatus.



J. H. SOHALLER.

FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS.

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APPLICATION FILED DBO. 7, 1910.

1,038,002, Patented Sept 10,1912.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. H. SGHALLBR.

FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS. APPLIGATIONi-IILEDDEG. 7, 1910.

1,038,002, Patented Sept. 10,1912.

ll SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l'\ \i l\\\\\\\\\\\\ l 4 WlTNEEEEE: 33 R J. H. SCHALLER.

FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED DEC. 7, 1910.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. H. SGHALLER.

FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rum) no. '1, 1910.

1,038,002. Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

WITNEEEIEfI V 7 NVE flfiglv w Z 5 y 2; 55: I

J. H. SGHALLER.

FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1910.

Patented Sept. 10,1912

11 SHEETS-BREE?! 8.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.7, 1910.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

11 SHEETSSHEET 9.

MM Q Nb \lTUR JAZW Z 3 w w W M W0 W3 w R. A Q R A 0m 3 g Q m W w J. H. SGHALLER.

FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1910.

1,038,002, Patented Sept 10, 1912.

11 SHEETS-SEEET l0.

J. H. SGHALLER. FABRIC DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. '7, 1910.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

- 11 SHEETSSHEET 11.

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. 13 mW E m w m m mm wN n S \NVENT 13 r Application filed-December 7, 1910.' Serial 110. 598,048.

Ur 1 EDSTATES PATENT orrIoE.

JOHANHES n. SCHILLER, orzmog, NEW YORK, assrenon ro GLUE'IT, rmomr a COIPANY, our rm, imwwomg, A conrom'rron or new Yonx;

rannwnnnuonrrannrus.

Be it known that I, JOHA-NNES H. Sonar.- m, subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Fabric- Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. a

The ventio'n relates to such improvements an nsists-of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described: and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the .accoanpany- 1 ing drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Similar characters refer to similar parts'in the several figurestherein.

"Figure 1 of the drawings isa view side elevation of my improved fabricrdrying apparatus with the front end broken away.-

This'figure is drawn on a smaller scale than the other figures of the drawings. is a similar view of the front end of the apparatus, partly in section, and with the near side-wall removed to show the interior parts of theapparatus. Fig. 3 is. a View similar to Fig. 1, on a larger scale, with more of the apparatus broken away, and the-rear end of the dry-room inclosure shown in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. A is a top plan view of the front end of the apparatus shown in Fig. Fig. 5 .is a vertical-crosssection of the apparatus taken on the broken line 5. 5 in Fig. .1, looking tdward the rear of the apparatus. F ig. 6' is a vertical cross-section of the apparatus taken on the broken line 66 in Fig. 2, looking toward the front of the apparatus. Fig. 7

is a view in rear elevation of the apparatus with the lower portion thereof broken away. Fig. 8 is a verticallongitudinal section of the front end of the apparatus, taken on the a broken line 8'8 in Fig. '6. Fig. 9 is a view partly in section and partly inside elevation' of the mechanismfor investing the positions of the fabric-carrying racks. Fig;

10 is a vertical longitudinal section of the fabric-delivermg mechanism at the rear of the apparatus, taken on the ,}broken liiae' 10-40 in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a cross-section ta ken-on the broken line 1l-11 in Fig. 2, through the centers of the several shafts with which the members of the train of gears" are connected for transmitting motion to various parts of the carrier-loading mech- Fig. 2

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 10, 1912;

anism. Fig. 12 is a view in front elevation of the overhead driving mechanism from which power is transmitted to the carrierloadmg mechanism at the front end of the apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to drywebs of woven fabric without matenally. interfering. with or controlling the. I shrinkage thereof.

Another object of the invention is to 'facilitatethe"delivery of the web of fabric to and from the drying apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will appear j in connectionwith tied? The invention is adapted for thus drying fabrics intended for various uses, but it is particularly adapted for drying such woven fabrics as are used in the manufacture of. shirts, collars and cuffs. These fabrlcs, which. are principally cotton goods,

long webs which have been treated in the or sizing, andhave then been dried under tension and pressure exerted by heated rolls fabric are stretched and the web thereby given an abnormal or unnatural length. When such fabric is afterward washed or saturated with water and permitted to dry while not under tension or pressure, the threads and fibers will shrink and return to their normal length.

It has been the common practice of shirtcollar-and-ouif manufacturers tomake allowance, in the sizeof patterns from which the articles are cut, for the expected shrinkage, butt-his is found to be an unsatisfactory expedient and an unreliable method,-because different fabrics have different coefficients of shrinkage, and such articles," as collars, cuffs, neck-bands, wrist-bandsbosoms, &c., are made up of a pluralityof .lies,which plies are usually formed of. di erent qualities of fabric,- so'that it is not only practically impossible to predeterm'ine the size I of the finished product, but the difference in 'shrinkageof thedifferent plies tends'to distortthe article, for which reason it is found required tohave a definite length or size, to stretch the-articles to such size by means of an apparatus designed for that-purpose, as

vis well understood .in the art. If, before the following descrip-.

are: supplied to the trade in the form of mill or bleachery with a stiffening dressing whereby the longitudinal threads of the.

' necessary,-a .-fter washing such articles as are.

making upthe fabric into such articles, the various fabrics are thoroughly shrunk, the

' difiiculties above referred to are practically so support the same that it shall not be subjected to material tension or to influences which would cause one part of the web to thereon.

shrink to a less extent than another part thereof. 1

My invention comprises an apparatus whereby these objects can be attained.

Referringto the drawings, wherein the invention is shown in preferred form, the

apparatus comprises in part a drying room' or inclosure, '1, within which the fabric is supported while the moisture is being eliminated therefrom. Arranged along the respective opposite side walls of said inclosure,

in the upper part thereof, are two series of brackets, 2, all .in substantially the same horizontal plane, upon each of which brackets is mounted an antifriction roller, 3.

U on the series of said rollers along each si e wall of the inclosure is supported a rail, formed in part by an angle-iron, 4, and in part by a wooden bar, 5, seated in the angle of said angle-iron. The rails thus formedconstitute a bed or way adapted to support, and along which is adapted to travel, a carrier comprising in part endless side-chains, 6, and cross-rods, 7, carried by said chains, each of said chains being adapted to rest upon one of the bars, 5, inside of the upwardly projecting vertical member of the angle-iron, 4, thereof, as shown in Fig. 5.

At the front end of the apparatus the chains, 6, pass over the respective sprocketwheels, 8, rotatively mounted upon the cross-shaft, 9, and adapted to be connected to rotate therewith by means of the respective sliding clutch-members, 10, which clutch-members are adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the corresponding clutch-members, 11, on the hubs of the .respective sprocket-wheels, 8, by means oflevers, 12, fulcrumed at, 13, upon the cross-bar, 14, forming part of the stationary frame of the apparatus, the lower ends ofsaid levers being connected with the respective nuts, 15, fitting the respective right-and-left-hand threaded ends of a cross-shaft, 16, which is adapted to be rohated by the spoked hand-wheel, 17, fixed By rotating the screw-shaft, 16', in one direction, the clutch-members, 10, can

'be thrown into engagement with the respectlve clutch-members, 11, and by rotating said screw-shaft in the opposite direction, the clutch-members, 10, can be thrown .out of engagement therewith. The chains,

6, also pass around or over the respective sprocket-wheels, 18, at the front of the apparatus, in the lower part thereof, the respective sprocket-wheels, 19, at the rear end of the apparatus, in the upper part thereof, and the'respective sprocket-wheels, 20, at the ,rear .end of the apparatus, in the lower part thereof, the sprocket-wheels, 18, 19 and 20, being idle wheels.

Power is transmitted to the shaft, 9, by means of the gear-wheel, 21, fixed thereupon in mesh with the pinion, 22, which pinion also meshes with a pinion, 23, which is fixed upon a short shaft, 24, upon whichv shaft, 24, is also fixed a gear-Wheel, 25, which meshes with a pinion, 26, fixed upon a shaft, 27, upon whichshaft is also fixed a gear, 28, which intermeshes with a gear, 29, fixed upon the shaft, 30, which shaft, 30, is driven by a chain, 31, and sprocket-wheel 32. Power is thus transmitted by the chain,

31, to the sprocket-wheel, 32, and shaft, 30; from the shaft, 30, through the gear, 29, and 28, to the shaft, 27; from the shaft, 27, through the pinion, 26, and gear, 25, to the shaft, 24; and from the shaft, 24, through the pinion, 23, and the intermediate pinion, 22, and gear, 21, to the shaft 9.

The cross-rods, 7, are adapted to support successive loops, 33, of a web of fab.- i'ic, 33, placed thereon in the. position shown in Fig. 2, and an important feature of my invention consists in means for automatically placing upon said cross-rods, such loops of fabric. Each of the cross-rods, 7, is mounted at its opposite ends upon arms, 34, pivotally connected at, 35, with the respective chains, said cross-rod and its supporting arms constituting a rack adapted to swing upon the pivotalvconnection, 35.

When in position to receive the loops, 33,

. from the rear to the front of the apparatus, they are free to hang vertically downward from the carrier chains, and as they accom- .pany the vertical stretch of carrier at the front of the apparatus in its upward movement, they, by gravity, assume a ddwnwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 8, so that they project in a directionopposite to that in which the carrier is moving, just as they enter the upper stretch 'at the front of the apparatus. As a means for automatically swinging theseracks from their forwardly to their rearwardly pro-- jecting positions, I provide a revolving arm or finger, 37, fixed upon the hub of a pinion, 38, rotatively mounted upon a stud, 39, and adapted to mesh with an intermediate gear, 40, rotaffiively mounted on a stud, 41,

and adapted to be driven by an intermesh ing gear, 42, fixed upon the shaft, 9, said gears and pinion being so proportioned that the arm or finger, 37, makes a complete The eed-roll, 44, is fixedupon' the shaft,

30, and the rollers, 43, and 44, have fixed thereto respectively the intermeshing gears,-

46 and 47, of e ual size. The fabric passes from between t e rollers, 43, and 44, over the small roll, 48, and thence downwardly between two neighboring cross-bars 7. The small roll, 48, is driven from the shaft, 30, by means of a chain, 49, which connects the sprocket-wheel, 5O fixed to the roll, 48, with t e sprocket-whee 51, fixed upon the shaft I .30. 'The \upper stretch of the carrier has preferably! a continuous, comparatively slow, rearward movement throughout the loading operation -and the speed of thecarrier is so regulated with reference tothe speed of the feed-rolls, 43, and 44, that the deslred length of fabric to make a loop, 33,

will be fed between said feed-rolls during the interval. required for the movement of the carrier a distance equalto the distance between two neighborlng cross-bars or racks. The loops, 33, should be so limited in length that the weight of the hanging portion of the loop will not be sufiicient.to cause a material strain or tension upon the upper portions of the loops which rest upon the cross-bars, 7, and, as the length of the loop which can thus be safely employed will vary with different fabrics, the relative speed of the carrier and feed-rolls can be varied accordingly b changing the proportions of some of t e members of the trainof gears above described and whereby the movements are imparted to therespective parts of the apparatus.

In order to insure accuracy in the length of the loops, and to 'insure the'proper laying or folding of the fabric u on andover each cross-rod, I provide a fo der comprising a cross-bar, 52, mounted upon a frame,

' 53, the end bars of which are' fixed upon the respective rock-shafts, 54, having hearings in the respective hangers, 55, fixed to the main stationary frame of the apparatus on opposite sides of the carrier. The rockshafts, 54, are locatedin a plane below that of the upper stretch of the carrier, and in a.

line in rear of the path of feed movement'of the fabric in passing from the feed-roll, 48

.down through the carrier between two neighboring cross-bars, 7 and said frame, 53, has, its upper end oflset forwardly in the form of a hook at the point of which is located the folder-bar 52. A rocker-arm,

56, on each rock-shaft, 54, is connected by a link, 57, with one arm of 'a trip-lever, 58, e

nected from the clutch-members, 10, and

fulcrumed at59, upon the hanger, 55, the

other end of which trip-lever, 58', is yieldingly held by the action of the spring, 60, in the path of a plurality of pins, 61, projecting from the side of the neighboring against the force of the spring, 60, slowly to its rearward position, as shown in Fig. 8, and as said pin leaves the end of the triplever to release the same, the folder-bar, 52, is, by the force of the spring, 60, thrown quickly forward and downward, carrying the fabric with it forward o"er the crossbar which lies-just in front of the fabric, and downward between that cross-bar and the next forwardly located cross-bar, as shown in Fig. 2. f

, By the continuous operation of the apparatus above described, successive portions of the carrier will be loaded and carried toward the rear of the apparatus until the entire webof fabric has been thus loaded u on the carrier in the form of loops, 33. vshen the entire web has been thus loaded upon the carrier, the supply of power to the drive-chain, 31, is interrupted, and the clutchmembers, 10, are thrown out of'engagement ioc with the clutch-members, 11, in the manner above described, thereby making the sprocketwheels, 8, merely idlers. For certain pur: poses of the invention, the fabric thus loaded upon the carrier ca'nlbe left to simply hang thereon within the dry-room in- Q ever, to further facilitate the dryingoperatipn by agitating, durin the drying operation, both the fabric an the air within the dry-room inclosure. As a means for causing such agitation, I connect the rear ends of the respective side rails,'5, each by a pi tman, 64, with the wrist-pin of a crank, 65, fixed upon the end of a crank-shaft, 66, which crank-shaft is adapted tobe rotated by a belt-connection, 67, between the pulley,

68, thereon, and a pulley, 69, on the main power-shaft, 70, at the rear of the apparatus. This main power-shaft, 70, is driven by a pulley, 71, adapted to be shifted at Wlll from one to the other of the tight pulley, 72, and loose pulley 73s." I

The sprocket-wheels, 8, being discon- "therefore free to move freely on the shaft, 9, the carrier and its supporting sprocketwheels which thus become all idlers are free to respond to the to-and-fro movement thus imparted to the rails, 5, and the carrier will accompany said rails in their to-and-fro movements. The belt, 67,'is adapted to be moved by a belt-shipper, 74, operated by a handle, 75, from one to the other of. the tight pulley, 69, and the loose pulley, 76, 5n the shaft, 70, whereby the to and-fro motion of the rails can be started andinterrupted at will. The crank-shaft, 66, has bearings in the hanger-frame, 77, and the main power-shaft, 70, has bearings inthe hanger-frame 78.

A further feature of my invention consists in means for deliveringfrom the drying apparatus the fabric when dry. For..

this purpose I mount upon the hangerframe, 7 7 by means of pivotal connections at '79, a swinging frame, 80, said hangerframe having also rotatively mounted thereon concent-ric'with the pivotal connections, 79, a feed-roll, 81, coiiperative with a feedroll, 82, also rotatively mounted on said hanger-frame. At the lower end of the swinging frame, 80, are mounted thereupon a pair of feed-rollers, 83, and 84. The roller, 83, is driven from the roller, 81-, by means of a belt-connection, 85, between pulleys fixed on the rolls respectively; and-the roll, 81, is driven from the pulley, 85, through a cross-belt connection, 86, between said pulley and a pulley fixed on 'said roll 81. The pulley, 85, is fixed upon a crossshaft, 87, having bearings in the hangerframe, 77 which shaft, 87, is driven by means of a belt-connection, 88, between a pulley, 89, fixed thereon and a pulley, 90, fixed upon the main-power-shaft 70. The belt, 88, can be shifted by means of the belt-shipper, 91 from one to the other of the fixed pulley, 89, and a loose pulley, 92, on the shaft 87. A feed movement can thus be imparted to the feedrolls, 81 and 82 and to the feed-rolls, 83, and 84:, at the will'of the operator.

- A vibratory or swinging motion can be imparted to the swinging frame, 80, through a pitman-rod, 93, connecting each side of the swinging frame with the wrist-pin of a crank, 94: fixed upon a crank-shaft, 95, having bearings in the hanger-frame, 77, and driven by means of a belt-connection, 96, between a pulley, 97, fixed thereupon and a pulley, 9 8, fixed upon the mam powershaft 70.

After the fabric in the dry-room inclosure has been dried to the desired degree, the operation of the crank-shaft, 66, 1s discontinrued; the neighboring end ofthe fabric is fed out through an opening in the rear wall of the dry-room inclosure between the feedrolls, 81 and 82, down to, and forwardly be- Y 1,oss,oo2

tween, the feed-rolls 83, and 8 1; the clutchmembers, 10, are thrown into engagement with the clutch-member's, 11, on the sprocketwheels 8; power is again transmitted to the drive-chain, 31, whereby a traveling movement is again imparted to the carrier; and the crank-shaft; 95, and the shaft, 87, are operatively" connected with the running shaft 70. With the several parts thus 0 erating, as each successive loop, 33, of the ab- ;ric is brought by the carrier adjacent to the rear wall of the inclosure, the fabric of said loop is automatically fed out or delivered through said opening between the rolls, 81, and 82, and between the rolls, 83 and 84, and is by vreason of the swinging or vibratory movement of the frame, 80, laid or piled in folds upon the subjacent table, 99, the operation being continued until the entire web has, been thus delivered from the carrier. 3

As soon as the unloaded cross-bars, 7, reach the upper stretch of thecarrier at the front of the apparatus, the operation of loading the same with another web of wet fabric can be begun, and the operations of loading and unloading may be proceeded with simultaneously.

, As the drying operation proceeds, it is desirable to replace from time to time the moisture-laden air within the dry-room inclosure with a fresh supply of air. To permit the air within the dry-room inclosure to be thus gradually changed from time to time, I provide in the sides of the inclosure, near the bottom thereof, a plurality of ventapertures, 100, adapted to be closed by sliding doors,'l01, which doors are attached to an operating bar, 102, which is connected by a link, 103, with the lower arm of a lever,

104, fulcrumed at, 105, upon the side wall of .the inclosure, and connected at its upper end at, 106, with the neighboring rail, 5, whereby, as said rail moves to and fro, each of the doors, 101, will be automatically alternately opened and closed. The top of the dry-room inclosure is also provided with=a plurality of ventilators, 107, the outlet of each of which is controlled byv a valve, 108, adapted to be automatically closed by a spring, 109, said valve, 108, being connected by cords, 111, passing over pulleys, 110, with the up er end of the lever, 106, whereby, as the si erails, 5, move to and fro, each of the valves, 108, will be automatically opened and closed. The connections are preferably such that when the valves, 108, are opened, the doors, 101, are closed, and vice versa. The to-and-fro movement of the rails, 5, and carrier with the body of fabric thereupon, imparts to the fabric not only a to-and-fro movement as a whole, but also a pendulous movement of each loop, 33, from its support ing crossbar, 7, as a result of 'which movements of the fabric, the air within the in- I openlngs,

I I have shown closure is considerably a itated, so that, with the opportunity afforded by said vent a considerable body .of air is changed ateach to-and-fro movement of the fabric.

-As a preferred means for supplying to the feed-rolls, 43 and 44, the wet web of fabric, k at the front of the apparatus, a tub or vat, 112, from which the web' passes. over guide-rods, 113 and 114, to and partly around a guide-roller, 115, thence through .a tension device, .116, to and partly around a spreading-roll, 117, from which the fabric passes to and between the feed-rolls, 43, and 44, as shown in Fig. 2. The spreading-roll, 117, has upon its surface two ribs, 118, which wind spirally around the roll from its respective ends toward its middle, one of said ribs being in the form of a right-hand spiral, and the other of a lefthand spiral. his spreading-roll is driven at a peripheral speed much greater than the speed of feedmovement of the fabric, power being transmitted thereto through the sprocket-wheel, 119, fixed thereon, and connected by a chain, 120, with a sprocket-wheel, 121, upon which is fixed a pinion, 122, connected by an intermediate pinion, 123, with the gear-wheel 28.

The direction of the respective spiral ribs,

-' thereby removing 118, on the spreading-roll is such that as said roll is rapidly rotated in engagement with the slowly moving web, the same points on the fabric are successively engaged by parts of the respective ribs which diverge from each other and tend to spread or stretch out the web from its center to its sideedges, wrinkles from the web, and causing it to be delivered in smooth conditionto the feed-rolls, 43 and 44.

The tension device, 116, comprises a plate rotatively mounted at, 125, upon the main frame of the apparatus, and adapted to be supported ina more or less inclined position by means of the hook, 126, having a plurality of notches adapted to receive the pin, 127, on the plate 116. The upper ed e of the plate, 116, thus forces the web of abric to a greater or less extent against a stat1onary tension-plate, 128, in order to give to the fabric the tension necessary to enable the; spreading-roll, 117,- to properly perform its function. 1

fMount'ed upon the carrier with the movable tension-plate, 116, is a sto -mot1on, whereby the ower isautomatica y cut off I from the driving shaft of the loading mechanisnr when the end of the web is released from the control of the tension device. This stop-motion comprises an arm, 129, fixed upon a rock-shaft, 130, mounted in hearings in a bracket, 131, projecting upwardly from the tension-plate, 116, said arm, 129, having on its upper and outer end a finger, 132, adapted to bear. upon the web and be supported .in raispd position asshown in Fig. 2,

shaft, 130,

which lever is also will remain upon so long as the web-1s under tension. An

arm, 133, also fixed upon said rock-shaft, 130, is connected by a coil-spring, 134, with the tension-plate, 116, said spring tending to impart to the arm, 129, a downward movement, which is prevented so long as the fabric with which the finger, 132, is in engagement, is under tension. As soon as the end of the web passes from the control of the tension device, 116, the arm, 129,- yields to the influence of the' spring, 134 and moves downward. from the shown in Fig. 2, to the .position shown in Fig. 8,-thereby imparting a rocking motion to the rock-shaft 130. Fixed upon the rock is another rocker-arm, 136, con 137, with a lever, 138-, connected by 'a cord, 139, passing over a pulley, 140, with one arm of the controlling-lever, 141, of a belt-shipping device 142. A coil-spring, 143, connected with ,the lever, 141, is adapted to operate the belt-shipping mechanism in a di-' rection to move the main drive-belt,-144, from a loose pulley, 145, to a fixed pulley,

nected by a a link,

146, on the shaft, 147, which shaft has fixed thereonasprocket-wheel, 148, connected by the sprocket-chain, 31, with the sprocketwheel, 32, above described. So long as the stop motion arm, 129, is supported in raised position by the web of fabric, the belt-,144, the fixed pulley, 146, butas soon as the arm, 129, is released from'the support-ing control of the fabric by reason of the approach of the end of the web, the downward movement of the arms, 129, and 136, induced by their weight, and by the spring, 134, serves to exertsa pull upon thecord, 139,'suflicient to overcome the force of the coil-spring, 143, and move the belt-shipping apparatus, 142, in a direction to shift the belt from the fixed pulley, 146, to the whereby the operation of loose pulley, 145, the loading mechanism-is automatically discontinued upon the approach of the end of the web.

What. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. In an apparatus in the class ydescribed, and in combination, a movable carrier hav ing fabric-supporting cross-rods; means for movin said carrier; means for feeding a web 0 fabric down through said carrier; in automatically operating, folder movable relatively to the cross-bars into engagement with the web for fold' over the successive crossiars in a succession at-ing said folder.

'2. In an apparatus of the class. described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; a pair of the web of fabric position of loops and means for intermittently ope'r downwardly feeding feed-rolls above said carrier; means for continuously operating said feed-rolls and said carrier; a folder rotatory in engagement movable into engagement with the fabric above the carrier in a direction opposite to that in which the carrier is moving; and means for automatically operating said folder at predetermined mtervals.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; a pair ,of downwardly feeding feed-rolls above said carrier; means for continuously operating said feed-rolls and said carrier; a folder movable into engagement with the fabric above the carrier in a direction opposite to that in which the carrier is moving; a wheel with said carrier; and mechanism carried by said wheel whereby an intermittent operation of said folder is induced at predeterminedintervals.

t. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; a pair of downwardly feeding feed-rolls above said carrier; means for continuously operating said feed-rolls and said carrier; a folder movable into engagement with the fabric above the carrier in a direction opposite to that in which the carrier is moving; a wheel rotatory in engagement with said carrier; a

series of pins carried by said wheel; continuously operating yielding means for impartlng a folding movement tosaid. folder; and means for positively imparting to said folder a return, movement, comprising in part a lever connected therewith having one of its arms located in the path of sa-id pins. 5. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having cross-rods adapted to support a web of fabric in loops hanging therefrom; a support, an oscillatory frame pivotally mou11ted upon said support; a pair of feed-rolls mounted in bearings upon the swinging end of said frame; a guide-roll mounted concentrically with the axis of oscillation of said frame; means for operating the respective rolls; means for oscillating said frame; means for movlng said carrier toward said frame; and a support subjacent to said frame upon which the fabric is adapted to be laid in folds by said feed-rolls as said frame is oscillated. v

6. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a fabric-supporting carrier capable of a progressive movement and of ,a to-and-fro movement; mechanism for feeding a web of fabric to said carrier; and means for imparting to said carrier at certain times a progressive movement, andat certain other times a to-and-fro movement. 7. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a fabric-supporting car- 7 rier capable ofjaprpgressive movement and of a to-and-fro movement; mechanism for feeding a web of fabric to said carrier;

means for imparting to said carrier at cermoving tain times a progressive movement, and at certain other times a to-and-fro movement;

and a pair of feed-rolls for withdrawing the fabric from said carrier.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having cross-rods adapted to support a web of fabric in loops hanging therefrom; a pair of feed-rolls for withdrawing the fabric from said carrier; means for moving the carrier toward said feed-rolls; a frame movable to and fro; bearings for said feed: rolls mounted upon said frame; means for operating said feed-rolls; means for imparting to said frame a to-and-fro motion; and a support beneath said rolls upon which said rolls are adapted to lay said fabric in folds. a

9. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; a carriersupporting bed capable of longitudinal toand-fro movement; operating mechanism for imparting to said bed at certain times a to-and-fro movement; mechanism for moving said carrier at certain times along said bed; mechanism for feeding a web of fabric in successive loops to the successive cross-rods of the movin carrier; means whereby said bed can be reed from the infiuence of its operating mechanism during the operation of feeding the web to the moving carrier; and means whereby said carrier can be freed from the influence of its operating mechanism, while a to-and-fromotion is imparted to said bed. i

10. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; a carriersupp'orting bed capable of longitudinal toand-fro movement; for imparting to said bed at certain times a to-and-fro movement; f-mechanism for moving said carrier at certain times along said bed; mechanism. for feeding a web of fabric in successive loops to the successive cross-rods of the moving carrier; means whereby said bed canvbe freed from the influence of its operating mechanism durlng the operation of feedlng the web to the carrier; means whereby said carrier can be freed fromthe influence of its operating mechanism, while a to-and-fro motion is imparted to said bed; a pair of feedrolls for withdrawing the fabric from said carrier; and'means for operating said feedrolls.

11. In an apparatus ofthe class described,

and in combination, a movablecarrier having fabric-supporting. cross-rods; a carriersupporting bed capable of longitudinal toand-fro movement; a pair of feed-rolls for withdrawing the fabric'from said carrier; mechanism for moving s 'd carrier at certain times along said bed towarii said feedmovement, of said fabric,

mechanism a feeding a web of rolls;

in successive loops to thesuccessive fabric cross-rods of the moving carrier; means whereby said bed"can be freed from the influence of its-operating mechanism during the operation of feeding the web of fabric to the moving carrier; means whereby saidcarrier can be freed from the influence of its operating mechanism, while a to-and'-fro motion is imparted to. said bed; a frame movable to and fro; bearings for said feedrolls mounted upon said frame; means 'for operatlng said feed rolls; means for 1mparting to said frame a to-a'nd-fro motion;

and a support beneath said rolls upon which said rolls are adapted to lay said fabric in folds.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a pair of feed-rolls adapted to receive therebetween a 'web of fabric; means for operating the same; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-,spreading'roll located in the path of said fabric between said feedrolls and said tension-device; means for imparting to said spreading-roll a peripheral movementrelatively to the fabric: and rearwzfi'dly diverging rigs on said spreadingro r a I 13. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a pair of feed-rolls adapted to receive, therebetweenv aweb of fabric; means for operating the ,same; a tension-device engageable with said Web of fabric; a fabric-spreading roll located in the path of said fabric between saidfeedrolls and said tension-device; means for rotating said spreading-roll 1n the direction of movement of said fabric, and at a peripheral speed greater than the speed of the fabric; and rearwardly diverging ribs on said spreading-roll. v

14. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, and in combination, a' pair ;of feed-rolls adapted to receive therebetween a .web of fabric;jmeans for operating {the same; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-s reading roll located in the path of said abric between said feedrolls' and said tension-device meansof rotating? said spreading rolli n the direction of.

and ata peri heral speed greater than the speed of the abric;

vand a pair; of ribs,'ext ended, in the form of a left handrspir'al, and the other in the form of 1a right-hand spiral, rearwardly from the middle spreading-roll.

to the respective ends of said 15. 'In an apparatus of'the class described,

.and in combination, a fabric-sup orting car- 'rier; a pair of feed-rolls adapte to receive therebetween a web of fabric, and feed the means for operating a tension-device engageable with web of fabric; a. fabric-spreading roll located in thepath of said fabric between said feed-rolls and said tension device; means for im arting to said spreading roll a periphera movement relatively tothe fabric; and .rearwardly diverging ribs on said spreading-roll.

16. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, and in combination, a fabric-supporting carrier; a pair of feed-rolls adapted to receive therebetween a web of fabric, and feed the same to said carrier; means for operating said feed-rolls; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabricspreading roll located in the path of said fabricbetween said feed-rolls and said ten sion-device; means for imparting to said spreading-roll a peripheral movement relatively to the fabric; and a tended, one in the form of a aft-hand s iral, and the other in the formof a rightand spiral, rearwardly from the middle to the respective ends of said spreading-roll.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a fabric-supporting carrier; a pair of feed-rolls adapted to receive therebetween a web of fabric and feed the same to said carrier; means for operating said feed-rolls; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-spreading roll located in the path of said fabric between said feed-rolls and said tension-device; means for imparting to said spreading-roll a peripheral movement relatively to the fabric; rearwardly diverging ribs on said spreadingwoll; and a pair of feed-rolls for withdrawing the" fabric from said carrier.

'18-. In an apparatus of the class described,

pair of ribs, ex-

and in combination, a fabric-supporting carrier; a pair of feed-rolls. adapted to receive therebetween a web of fabric and feed the same to said carrier; said feed-rolls; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-spreading roll located in the pathof said fabric between said feed-rolls and said tension-device; means for'imparting to said spreadingroll a peripheral movement relatively to the fabric; a pair of ribs, extended, one in the form of a left-hand spiral, and the other in the formof a right-hand spiral, rearwardly from the middle to the respective ends of said spreading-roll; and a pair of feed-rolls for withdrawing the fabric from said carrier.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; means, comprising in part a pair of feed-rolls, for automatically placing upon said rods successively, successive-loops of a web of fabric; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-spreading roll located in the'path of said fabric between said feedrolls and said tension-device;v means for 1mparting to said spreadingapll a peripheral meansfor opera-ting movement relatively to said fabric; and rearwzfidly diverging ribs on said spreadingro 20. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; means, comprising in part a pair of feed-rolls, for automatically placing upon said rods successively, successive loops of a web of fabric; a tension'device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-spreading roll located path of said fabric between said feed-rolls and said tension-device; means for imparting to said spreading-roll a eripheral movement relatively to said fa ric;'rearwardly diverging ribs on said spreading-roll; and a pair of feed-rolls for withdrawing the fabric from said-carrier.

21. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supporting cross-rods; means, comprising in part a pair of feed-rolls, for automatically placing upon said rods successively, successive loops of a web of fabric; a tension-device engageable with said web of fabric; a fabric-spreading roll located in the path of said fabric between said feedrolls and said tension-device; means for imparting to said spreading-roll a peripheral movement relatively to said fabric; rearwardly diverging ribs on said spreadingroll; and means for imparting to said'carrier a to-and-fro movement.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a movable carrier having fabric-supportmg cross-rods; means, comprising in part a pair of feed-rolls, for

in the automatically placing upon said rods successively, successive loops of a web of fabric; a tension-device engageable with said web offabric; a fabric-spreading roll located in the path of said fabric between said feedrolls and said tension-device; means for imparting tosaid spreading-roll a peripheral movement relatively to said fabric; rear- Wardly diverging ribs on said spreadingroll; and means for imparting to said car rier at certain times a to-and-fro movement, and at certain other times a progressive movement.

23. In an apparatus of the class described,

and in combination, a movable carrier havmg fabric-supporting cross-rods; means, for feeding to the ,carrier a web of fabric; a drive-shaft; operating connections between said drive-shaft and the fabric-feeding mechanism and said carrier; a' drive-belt movable fromone to another of a loose pulley and a fixed pulley on said drive-shaft; belt-shifting mechanism engageable with said belt; an automatically movable member adapted to be supported by the web of fabric being fed to said carrier; and mechanism whereby the movement of said member, when released from the control of the fabric, induces operation of the belt-shifting mechanism to shift said belt from said fixed to said loose pulley.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th da of November 1910.

J OHANNE H. SCHALLER. Witnesses:

E. M. SNYDER, D. A. GILLESPIE. 

